Wednesday, 28 September 2011

On Sunday, September 25, Conasys took part in the very first BILD Ride for Humanity. Making this day extra special was that it was dedicated to the late Stephen Dupuis, President and CEO of BILD who passed away just days prior.

The entire Conasys team has been deeply impacted by the sudden loss of Stephen, as many of us have had the opportunity to get to know him over the years, and had the pleasure of calling him a friend. Greg Stolz, Founding Partner and Executive Vice President of Conasys shares a few words about Stephen below.

"I received a call very early on September 23 from our Toronto office, informing me that Stephen E. Dupuis, CEO & President of BILD had passed away suddenly. This came as great shock as he was his usual charismatic, humorous and charming self the night before at the awards ceremony in which he was recognized for Lifetime Achievement.

I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen several years ago and was honoured to call him a friend. He was such a unique personality and when attending events where he was going to be as well, I always looked forward to seeing him.

His contribution to the residential construction industry, not only in the area his local served, but across Canada was commendable to say the very least. His insight, vision and ambition helped to raise the bar for consumers and industry participants across the country.

My heart is heavy. Rest in Peace Stephen, you will never be forgotten."

Friday, 23 September 2011

With smart technology becoming the norm, the use of Application Software or "Apps" have become increasing popular. It was only a matter of time until an app was created for something as routine and important as home maintenance.

POJO Software Inc has created HOME MAINTENANCE, which allows the user to track items in the home that need repair or inspection, according to a schedule set by the user. The application also has predefined lists of suggested items and how to care for them.

Maintain a service history with details about repairman and cost, automated updates for scheduled maintenance, and the ability to upload photos and track multiple houses separately are among the various features of this application.

Home maintenance impacts the resale value of a home, and the cost & enjoyment of ownership. Utilizing technology, homeowners now have the ability to streamline the process and dramatically improve the quality and frequency of necessary home maintenance.

Service Scheduler: Enables owner to select appointment time for scheduled maintenance

"The Equus App is the ultimate owner's manual. Interactive text mingles with detailed photos and videos to provide rich and immersive explanations of Equus technology, in a very intuitive way," says John Krafcik, President & CEO of Hyudani Motor Canada.

But it's not just car manuals going digital, The Tampa Bay Buccanners of the NFL announced recently that all players and coaches will be equipped with an iPad, loaded with a digital copy of their playbooks. They are hoping this will help players get up to speed quicker, rather than navigating through a phone directory-sized printed book.

Raheem Morris, Head Coach says "It took about two minutes for Buccaneer co-chairman Bryan Glazer to approve the purchase of 90 iPad 2's. Players watch past game footage and study plays that are downloaded to the devises automatically."

Owner's manuals are only useful if they are utilized by the reader, and it looks like going digital could be a way to encourage the process.

Tuesday, 13 September 2011

Bloomberg reported this week that Lowe's will be introducing its MyLowes online tool, which will allow customers to store information on purchases they make for their homes such as owner's manuals, warranties, and paint formulas.

"Forget the competition, we are playing catch-up with the customer psyche," says Mike Brown, Chief Information Officer for Lowe's.

This is a fantastic tool for keeping track of your DIY projects, from remodeling to renovations. No longer will important documentation be relegated to a box, lost or misplaced in that urgent time of need. Purchase products, install and enjoy; when you need to do maintenance, troubleshoot or reference the warranty terms, simply login and access the information.

If you really think about it, it was only a matter of time. We do business, bank, and socialize in the cloud everyday; most without even realizing it. With Canadian Internet usage nearing 85% and mobile technology on the rise, it makes sense to collect and store your valuable information in a safe place that can be referenced from anywhere, not just your home computer.

Friday, 9 September 2011

SAGE condos at UBC by Kenstone Properties is the most recent addition to Wesbrook Village. Innovative design, environmentally sound building practises, and the latest technology tools for homeowners make this project stand out at one of BC's most premier locations.

The project is designed to Silver status in Residential Environment Assessment Program (REAP), created by the UBC Office of Sustainability and based upon LEED standards for environmentally sustainable design and construction. This certification will make SAGE one of the greenest condo projects in BC.

Residents will be welcomed with web-based homeowner manuals which provide relevant information and product documents for everything in their specific home. Having product specific documents from the manufacturer will allow SAGE homeowners to properly operate and maintain the components in their home, reducing wasted energy and increasing the resale value.